Adoption: time to reach compromise

In a country ravaged by poverty, with so many women having babies they cannot afford to raise, everything possible must be done to encourage adoption, so some children at least have a chance of a better life. So, it is of concern that some people involved in social work for nongovernmental organisations have expressed their misgivings about a proposed amendment to the Child Care Act, which will outlaw the charging of fees for adoption services.

At first glance, it would seem that this change to the law is reasonable, given that placing children with adoptive or foster parents should never be a for-profit business.

However, those opposing the amendment say private adoption services – which work to complement those offered by the department of social development – do an excellent job, but that they incur costs for administration and to employ good social workers. The adoption process is a complex one which can cost money, but private adoption agencies certainly don’t do it as a revenue generator.

Harsher critics of the government plans claim the amendment will result in a “total shutdown of all adoptions in South Africa”.

We think that is alarmist – but there must be a way of reaching a compromise.